Learner Profile
Joan Ashley - B.A.

For Joan Ashley, one word has made a world of difference.

“Yes,” said the New Hampshire-based Union Institute & University B.A. learner. “I think saying ‘yes’ has opened many doors for me. I thrive on new experiences, and I often say yes and then I see where it leads me.”

Saying yes meant the opportunity to travel the world, the opportunity to working for non-governmental organizations including Amnesty International, the honor of marching with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, and even the chance to purchase animals in Colombia for Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo.

Most recently, saying yes meant enrolling in UI&U’s Bachelor of Arts program at an age when many think their college days are over. Now 81, Joan will graduate from Union this May.

After Joan’s husband passed away two years ago, she decided she needed to do something “all-consuming.” An experienced metal- and goldsmith, she first considered diving even more deeply into her artwork, but reconsidered after learning about UI&U’s B.A. program.

She was drawn to the program’s flexibility and the opportunity to create a program based on her individual interests, talents, and unique experiences. With the help of UI&U professors, she was able to create a program that allowed her to incorporate her vast knowledge of the world with her work with NGOs.

And with the assistance of UI&U’s staff, she was able to earn credit for college credits she earned as a young student at the University of Chicago and Vassar.

 “I cannot say enough about Union’s program,” said Joan. “The faculty is superb, and I love the diversity of the learners. We are of all ages and backgrounds, and when we get together. we have real conversation. We find we really care about each other.”

Joan’s work in the B.A. program includes a study on the Tibetan-speaking countries of Asia. Her second project focused on the anthropology of tourism, its expectations, and its impact on countries.

Her culminating study is what she calls a “shaped memoir,” titled "Connections and Epiphanies", that explores the turning points in her life.

One such turning point will certainly arrive in May, when she graduates with her B.A. degree from UI&U. Like their mother, her children have a passion for new landscapes, and they will travel from various places in the world, including Asia, to present her with her degree.

“My children are so pleased with me” said Joan. “Union was absolutely the right fit. It helped me connect and sharpened my thinking skills. I’ve had some wildly wonderful times in my life, and Union helped bring them together. And, all because I said, ‘yes.’”